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We aren't criminals, says bikie boss

Ilya Gridneff

Family club ... Rebels president Alex Vella, far right, defends the club's reputation.

The president of the Rebels motorcycle club has rejected police claims the organisation is a front for criminal activity, saying their only offences are minor traffic infringements.

Veteran Rebels leader Alex Vella held a press conference on Saturday at the club headquarters in Bringelly to return fire over the multi-agency Attero Task Force that earlier this week announced more than 500 charges and 300 arrests for club members.

"It's ridiculous," he said. "We are not a criminal organisation.

‘‘I didn’t say we are squeaky clean,’’ he said.

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"You always have black sheep that think the club will not know about it but once we do they're out," he said.

Mr Vella said the Australian Crime Commission-led task force announcement was a PR stunt by the government and police.

He said of the 300 arrests only 78 Rebels had been charged.

"Police harass, intimidate and pursue us because we are an easy target. But all they ever have against us is traffic infringements like defects on helmets or handlebars," he said.

Rebel leaders, who flanked Mr Vella, said they were pushing back and speaking out due to unnecessary police attention and the constant negative portrayal of the club.

"Rebels are not shooting each other but we get all the attention. I speak only for my club and I say focus on criminals, not our group," he said.

The Rebels, one of Australia's biggest clubs with close to 1500 members nationally, were hosting an annual open day on Saturday that included a car show, tattoo competition and activities for kids.

"We are a family," Mr Vella said. "We encourage people to stay out of trouble, to get a job, to live their lives."

The Attero Task Force, launched in February and involving 14 crime fighting agencies, targeted the Rebels because they are ‘‘one of Australia’s highest risk criminal threats,’’ ACC Executive Director Intervention and Prevention Paul Jevtovic said in a statement last Wednesday.

The ACC announced they had laid more than 500 charges ranging from violence related offences such as serious assault, stalking, kidnapping and affray to a range of firearms and weapons offences, drug offences, property, street and traffic offences.

More than 300 premises related to the Rebels had been searched with more than 40 firearms and drugs seized in efforts to smash the club’s ‘‘business model’’.

‘‘The Attero National Task Force is aimed at targeting, disrupting, disabling, dismantling and investigating the criminal activity of the Rebels in Australia,’’ Mr Jevtovic said.

A spokeswoman for the ACC on Saturday said they stood by those figures.